Suspect sought in warrant surrenders in court

A 20-year-old Canton man sought on a warrant for robbing the Certified gas station at 146 E. Canal St. on March 24, surrendered to authorities at Tuscarawas County Court in Uhrichsville on Monday afternoon.

A 20-year-old Canton man sought on a warrant for robbing the Certified gas station at 146 E. Canal St. on March 24, surrendered to authorities at Tuscarawas County Court in Uhrichsville on Monday afternoon.

Dezshon T. Dansby, 20, of 4310 Harrison Ave. NW, who was arraigned before Judge Brad Hillyer, pleaded not guilty to a charge of theft, a first-degree misdemeanor. Dansby, who was represented by attorney Matthew Petit, was released on a personal recognizance bond.

Police Chief Gary Holland said Monday afternoon that Dansby apparently was aware of the warrant put out for his arrest, and turned himself in at the court rather than at the Police Department.

Holland said he has not spoken to Dansby, but noted that the charge was theft, rather than robbery, upon the advice of Tuscarawas County Prosecutor Ryan Styer. “He didn’t feel we could show robbery because you have to have a threat of force or intimidation,” the chief added.

Holland said the person who robbed the Certified station never said anything other than “give me your money.”

The chief said he received up to 20 calls after a surveillance photo of the suspect was published in The Times-Reporter “and every one named him,” he said, referring to Dansby.

A robbery at the Gulf station at 129 W. State St. on March 7 remains under investigation. The suspect in that robbery described as a white male, 5-feet-10 to 6-feet tall, and weighing about 150 to 225 pounds. That robber was wearing a full-face ski mask, and reportedly brandished a black, semi-automatic handgun.

Undisclosed amounts of money were stolen in both robberies, police said.